Postpartum vaginal pain

It is said that having children is the happiest moment in a woman's life. However, for many women in real life, in addition to being a happy moment, there will also be many unexpected troubles. For example, vaginal pain after childbirth. Once vaginal pain occurs after childbirth, it will inevitably affect the physical recovery of the pregnant woman and greatly reduce her happiness. So what is the cause of vaginal pain after childbirth?

The area where we feel pain is the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and anus. No matter how big or small our baby is, as long as he/she comes into this world through vaginal delivery, our perineum will definitely feel torn and swollen.

Or for those of us who had an episiotomy (or perhaps a tear), we spend the first few days after birth getting used to the pain of the wound and the discomfort of the stitches. The pain can range from mild to extreme depending on the individual. For some people, it can go away in about 10 days, while for others it can last for a month.

This kind of pain is a really terrible experience, and sometimes it even affects daily urination and defecation. In fact, you are not alone! The perineum has loose tissue, rich blood vessels and nerves, and is particularly sensitive to pain. Most women will experience perineum pain after childbirth.

Mainly speaking, there are several reasons for postpartum vaginal pain:

1. Abrasions or lacerations of the perineum during childbirth, or related to episiotomy, can cause wound pain;

2. Perineal edema and tight wound sutures can cause persistent edema pain;

3. Bleeding from the wound forms a hematoma, which can cause obvious swelling and pain;

4. Induration caused by unabsorbed intestinal cord or hyperplasia of fibrous tissue in the wound will cause unabsorbed pain and induration pain respectively after delivery;

5. Perineal abscess formation: When the wound becomes swollen, painful, indurated, and has purulent secretions when squeezed, the pain is particularly obvious, especially when the abscess is immature.

How can these pains be relieved? During the recovery period, we must pay special attention to:

Avoid contact with damaged areas.

Change your sanitary napkin at least every 4 hours. Remember to wash your hands before and after changing, and make sure the sanitary napkin fits snugly and securely to prevent it from moving around and causing more irritation.

Rinse your perineum with warm water after urinating and gently dry it with a clean towel instead of toilet paper. Pat dry from front to back each time to avoid bringing bacteria from the anus into the vagina.

Rinse the perineum with warm water when you urinate. The water will dilute the urine so it doesn't sting.

Start doing pelvic floor muscle exercises as soon as possible after giving birth. This improves blood circulation to the perineum, aiding recovery, and also helps restore flexibility and control to the pelvic floor.

When you are at home and no one else is around, try lying in bed without a sanitary pad, with an absorbent bed pad (available in some drug stores) or some old towels placed underneath, and let your perineum "air dry."

Taking more showers or baths may also provide relief. Avoid adding salt to your water, as no studies have shown that salt helps in any way, and it can also cause dry and itchy skin. Don't shower for too long, as this will make your perineal tissue wet and delay recovery time.

Do not stand or sit for long periods of time.

When feeding your baby, you should sit comfortably, or you can choose to feed your baby while lying on your side.

If the pain doesn't go away or you develop a fever, see a doctor. Your doctor will first examine the wound to see if it is healing poorly, and may also prescribe physical therapy to help the wound heal and relieve pain. A fever may be a sign of infection, especially if you have stitches or incisions, but good personal hygiene can reduce the risk.

Relax, after all, healing takes time. Every new mother recovers in a different way and in a different amount of time, so focus on healing and regaining the strength you need to care for your baby.

May the pain go away from dear new mothers as soon as possible!

The vagina itself has a certain repair function, and the expansion phenomenon that occurs after delivery can be restored within 3 months after delivery. But after all, the muscles in the vagina are damaged by squeezing and tearing, so it takes a longer time for the vaginal elasticity to recover. Postpartum mothers can use some exercises to enhance elasticity recovery, treat postpartum vaginal relaxation, and promote vaginal firming.

1. Hold your urine

During urination, consciously hold your urine for a few seconds to interrupt urination, and then continue urinating after a short pause. Repeating this process for a period of time can increase the tension of the muscles around the vagina.

2. Anal lifting exercise

When you feel the urge to defecate, hold your stool and do anal lifting exercises. Repeating this exercise frequently can help train your pelvic muscles.

3. Contraction exercise

Lie on your back, relax your body, gently insert a finger into the vagina, then contract and clamp the vagina for 3 seconds, then relax, and repeat several times. The time can be gradually increased.

4. Kegel exercises

Doing Kegel exercises early after delivery can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. After a period of exercise, the vagina can shrink and its elasticity can recover to more than 80% of its pre-delivery level.

5. Other sports

When walking, consciously tighten the inner side of your big toe and perineum muscles, then relax and repeat the exercise.

Through these daily exercises, the tension of the pelvic muscles and the muscles around the vagina can be greatly improved, which helps restore the elasticity of the vagina and is helpful for sexual life. In addition to restorative exercises, postpartum mothers should also ensure that they take in essential nutrients to ensure muscle recovery.

5. Vaginal repair

Vaginal repair surgery can help improve vaginal relaxation, but it is not conducive to a second natural delivery. The purpose of vaginal repair is actually to improve the quality of sexual life.

Indications: After vaginal delivery, loose birth canal, enlarged vaginal opening due to episiotomy, or eversion of the anterior vaginal wall can all be restored through vaginal tightening surgery.

Contraindications: Patients with gynecological diseases such as vaginitis and uterine erosion are not suitable for surgery.

During pregnancy, the body's progesterone and estrogen levels increase, which promotes breast secretion, relaxes the birth canal, and enlarges the pelvis in preparation for the birth of the baby. Therefore, if a mother plans to undergo vaginal tightening surgery, she should wait 3-5 months after delivery, when the hormone levels in the body return to pre-pregnancy levels. Moreover, since there are scars on both sides of the vagina after surgery, the elasticity is affected, which is not conducive to a second natural delivery. In principle, it is recommended to choose a cesarean section. Therefore, mothers who are considering continuing to have children should make careful choices.